Review of The Lost Battalion (2001) by David G — 16 Sep 2010

It's October 1918 and a US Army battalion has been cut off during an attack into the Argonne Forest. Left to fend for themselves with dwindling medical supplies, food, water and ammunition they must resist determined German attacks and hold their ground.

The troops are your usual collection of wisecracking New York Italians, recently immigrated "Polacks" and Montana farm boys and are led by a former New York lawyer who's distrusted by his superiors.

The only thing they have in common? Their patriotism and "death before dishonour" attitude, which sees them through all hardships - bombardment by their own artillery, flamethrower-weilding stormtroopers and incompetence and callousness from their own divisional commander.

So... The Lost Battalion... no awards for originality but the battle sequences are brutal and chaotic, the attention to detail is impressive and the various personalities are well-developed considering there are so many of them.

It doesn't stand out in the congested behind enemy lines war genre but it's a good effort and well-made, especially considering it's a TV movie.